First-time campervan hire UK: complete beginner guide

If you’ve always fancied a home on wheels , a campervan is a top choice for any holiday. This type of trip means you can save money in high season, easily travel with family and friends, and park in remote locations to wake up with a view.

Campervans are a hugely convenient way to take your first “on the wheels” road trip. We’ve covered the essentials about hiring your first motorhome in this guide; here, we look at everything you need to know about your first campervan trip and our top tips for campervan holidays.

Hiring a campervan for the first time

If you’ve opted for a campervan rather than a motorhome , you’ll probably already have a good idea of the type of holiday you want. Campervans are generally more convenient than motorhomes when it comes to wild or free camping and “off the beaten track” style holidays, because of their smaller size and greater ease of manoeuvre.

Of course, you may have decided on a campervan for other reasons such as their suitability for a first-time driver , and plan to stay in a fully-equipped campsite each night. Either way, a campervan is an ideal choice for a first road trip.

To get an idea of what type of campervan you might want, start at theCamplify UK home page where you can filter your needs such as pet-friendly hires or luxury vehicles, or look for vans by destination.

The main UK search page then allows you tofilter for campervans rather than motorhomes, statics, caravans, trailer parks or glamping, and you can browse from there or filter down further by factors such as on-board amenities , price and available dates.

Best first-time campervan to hire

Campervans come in two types : old-school vintage vans like the classic VW campers and more modern vans that are either purpose-built or converted from something like a panel van. All campervans, unless specifically set up for solo travel, should sleep two adults comfortably. Many will fit a family of two adults and two children.

To choose your first hire campervan, think about the type of trip you want to take. You may prefer to use campsites every night and eat out for almost all meals, in which case a small and inexpensive hire with no kitchen space would suit well.

Or you might decide to save money where possible and cook dinner on board every night , therefore looking for a campervan with a kitchen and a little more living space.

As a general rule, vintage campervans are more suitable for trips with two people rather than family and friends or a family group. These types are better for shorter trips too, as, although they’ll sleep two people comfortably, the living area might become too cramped if you have lots of luggage or kit like fishing equipment to take along.

(If you’re using campsites and like to book them in advance, you might want to check pitch rules at a particular site if there’ll be more than two people travelling in your van, as you may be allowed to put up a pop-up tent on your pitch to use as overflow for older children or additional guests.)

Other factors to check are campervan amenities. Is a toilet or Porta Potti essential on your trip – perhaps if you’re going wild camping and won’t use a campsite? What sort of kitchen facilities do you want – are you happy with the basic campervan set up of two-burner gas stove, sink and tap, or would you also like a fridge and a grill or oven?

How easy is it to charge gadgets – is the campervan set up so you can plug into an electric hook-up point at a campsite? Think about what you need from your van and look for models accordingly.

Campervan packing tips

As with motorhomes, what you bring on a campervan trip is pretty much up to you and how you like to travel.

Your campervan should come with essentials like cutlery and pots and pans included in the price, but check each listing carefully then confirm with the owner what’s already in the van and what you’ll need to bring (for example, torch or shower gel).

Many listings will offer extras such as duvets/bed linen for guests to hire (and many will include bed linen in the hire price) – you might decide the extra cost is worth the lack of hassle transporting duvet sets. Expect to bring extras like towels and tea towels.

As campervans are smaller than motorhomes, what to pack comes down to a choice between what space is available versus your holiday must-haves. Once that’s decided, the same overall packing rules apply to campervans as well as motorhomes:

• Invest in plastic tubs (with lids) if possible – one for kitchen kit, one for food/condiments, one for cleaning materials, one for toys and games etc. This is an easy way to pack and unpack at the start and end of the holiday, stores dangerous items like bleach safely away if you’re travelling with children, and keeps smaller items secure from flying around the van at a sudden brake.

• Don’t pack lots of your home electrical kit , for example your kitchen toaster and kettle or your portable heater: these will use too much current as they’re not wired for recreational vehicles, and will likely trip your electric supply at the campsite (and others’, if your supply is shared). Look for other options like a gas-hob kettle instead, or decide to buy fresh rolls or similar every morning instead of making toast.

• If possible, arrange the campervan hire to include the night before your holiday so you can park and pack it on your driveway. This is much simpler than packing your car, driving to pick the campervan up then unpacking everything again into the van. This tip is especially handy if you’re hiring a larger campervan because you’re holidaying with children.

Essential items for a campervan trip:

• Driver’s licence, registration and insurance information

• Roadside assistance kit

• Bed linen if not included

• Chargers for phones, laptops, tablets etc

• Cleaning equipment – spray, dusters, washing-up liquid etc

• Kitchen kit not included in the motorhome, e.g. corkscrew, wok, spices, condiments, ice tray, steak knives

• Food for your first evening

• Food storage bags or boxes – for use inside the campervan as well as picnics or packed lunches on days out

• Water bottles

• Bin bags

• Kitchen rolls

• Wet wipes or washable cloths

• Pen and paper

• Maps/satnav

• Cash/coins – for tolls and parking meters

• Towels – at least two (one for showering and one for swimming), plus a beach towel (or picnic blanket)

• Spare clothes – at least two changes, plus wet weather gear and warm socks. You might also want to include a woollen/beanie hat, Wellington boots and a swimsuit/shorts. Don’t forget sunglasses either (especially if you’re the driver).

• Flip flops – to wear in or to/from campsite showers

• Slippers

• Blanket/s

• First-aid kit including any daily medication, antihistamine tablets, suntan lotion and insect repellent

• Spare glasses/contact lenses if you wear them; contact lens solution

• Bathroom toiletries including shaving items, shower gel (if not included) and antiseptic handwash

• Small rucksack or day bag

• Torch and spare batteries

• Face masks

• Laundry detergent, pegs and line

• Spanner – for disconnecting/removing the van’s gas bottle supply

• Basic vehicle kit – your campervan will be checked and roadworthy before you hire it, and any repair needs arising during your trip should be left to the owner to deal with after your trip. However, it’s always handy to carry essential vehicle kit like engine oil, WD40 and a spare fuse or two.

You might also like to bring:

• Cards and games

• Ereader/books

• Laptop/tablet pre-loaded with films/series

• Hairdryer, electric shaver, straighteners or other grooming items

• Wifi dongle

• Beach ball and games

• Camera

• Fishing kit

• Umbrella

Essentials list if you’re travelling with children:

• Toys and games

• Tablet

• Blackout blind/blanket if travelling if summer

• Extra nappies and wipes

• Nappy bucket

• Several small containers to collect stones, shells etc

• Bassinet/travel cot

• Beach ball and games; buckets and spades

• Sticker books

• Audiobook

• Colouring books and pencils

• Headphones – at least one pair per child

Essentials if you’re travelling with pets:

• Food and water bowls

• Tick remover

• Any medication

• Spare collar and lead

• Toys

• Bed/bedding

• Vet records/papers

First time travelling in a hired campervan

Once you’ve decided on which campervan to hire for your first trip, booked the van and packed your kit, it’s time for the campervan handover. Allow extra time for this at the start of your trip, so you can learn all you need to know about the vehicle and how it works.

If your campervan has a toilet or Porti-Potti , ensure you know how to empty it , how often it should be emptied (at least every couple of days is a good indicator) and how to clean it. Most cassette/portable toilets use particular cleaning fluids (as standard or bleach can damage the unit) – check in advance if you need to bring these or if they’ll be provided.

Also ask the owner to show you:

• The waste water tank and how to empty/clean it

• The drinking water tank

• How the beds fold down

• How the table and living area works – it might be fitted into place, or need to be unfolded each day

• Where the gas bottle is and how to disconnect it while travelling. We recommend trying this while the owner is there, as some gas bottle fittings can be quite stiff. Remember you need a spanner for this!

• Where car seats can be fitted if travelling with children (legally, campervans and motorhomes don’t have to have seat belts, as long as the seats are facing forward).

Using a campervan for the first time

Once you’re happy with how everything works in the campervan, it’s time to start your holiday! Make these checks before using your campervan for the first time :

• Secure all windows

• Secure all cupboards, plus the fridge door. (It’s worth looking for a van withsecured door locks such as these if your trip will involve lots of bumpy or off-road driving. If the van doesn’t have these, consider emptying the cupboards and decanting contents into a secure box with lid.)

• Disconnect the gas bottle and check that the spare (if there is one) is secure

• Secure loose items in the living area

• Retract the TV aerial if applicable

• Make sure the toilet cassette and waste water tank have been emptied and cleaned (the owner should have done this for you)

• Check the tyre pressure, including the spare

• Disconnect any external security devices

• Check the seatbelts are operational

• Disconnect the mains connector switch

• Check the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors if the van has them

Driving a campervan for the first time

If you’ve never driven a recreational vehicle or anything bigger than a car, it’s natural to be a little apprehensive at the different size and feel of a campervan. Follow these tips for safe and comfortable first-time campervan driving:

• Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your first destination. Road trip life is slower paced anyway, and you’ll enjoy the trip a lot more if you’re not rushing from campsite to campsite. Allow regular breaks too: driving a bigger vehicle for the first time is more tiring than you realise

• Take the campervan out for a test drive before setting off – the owner may be happy to come along with you and give you tips

• Be prepared to change route if necessary (for example, if a particular town on the way has an event or festival going on and the road is busy, you may prefer to take an alternative route)

• Campervans aren’t as big as motorhomes, but they still need a greater stopping distance

• Reverse into a parking space when you stop at a service station or other break point – this will make it easier to set off again

Other campervan driving factors to consider

Check you have the correct driving licence for a campervan. In the UK, campervans fall under Category C1 (medium-sized vehicles); whether you can drive a campervan under that category then depends on your age and when you passed your driving test.

• If you passed before 1 January 1997 and are under 70, you can drive a vehicle of up to 7,5000kg under the C1 category.

• If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, are over 70 or haven’t renewed your licence’s C1 category, your campervan driving eligibility will come under your licence’s Category B. This allows for vehicles up to 3,500kg, so should include all campervans.

See this government page for full details.

Remember too that the speed limit in the UK varies according to vehicle. Motorhomes and motor caravans (i.e., campervans) of up to 3.05 tonnes unladen weight can drive up to:

• 30mph in built-up areas

• 60mph on single carriageways

• 70mph on dual carriageways

• 70mph on motorways

Familiarise yourself too with the Camplify insurance details for hirers, and print them off to have handy. Camplify comprehensively covers all hire vehicles against accidents and damage while they’re on the road, working with some of the UK’s biggest insurers to give you full peace of mind. We also have a UK-based support team and offer 24/7 breakdown cover

via the RAC.

First-time campervan wild camping

The biggest advantage of campervans over motorhomes means their smaller size allows for wild or free camping much more easily.

We have a fullguide to wild camping in the UK and some recommended wild camping sites here. If you want to truly wild camp (not stay on a campsite), read on for our recommendations and tips about wild camping in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland:

Campervan wild camping in Scotland

Scotland is the only UK country where wild camping is legal , excepting some areas in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. It’s a stunning country to get off the beaten track, whether you want to start off from a city for a trip like to Bonaly Reservoir near Edinburgh, or go truly wild with a few days in the Cairngorms National Park or the Outer Hebrides.

Scotland’s wild camping is covered under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which permits wild camping in areas of unenclosed land. Additionally, theScottish Outdoor Access Code states that:

• Everyone has the statutory right of access

• Access rights apply to all land and inland waters, unless excluded (as below)

• Access rights are for outdoor recreation, for crossing land and water, and for some educational and commercial purposes

• Exercising access rights, and managing access land, must be done responsibly

Both areas of guidance do not apply to motor vehicles , so you don’t have a right to vehicle access unless it’s authorised by the landowner (by a sign or by verbal agreement). In practice, however, most places/landowners that will allow wild tent camping won’t have a problem with campervans using the space too – but do ask first.

Campervan wild camping in England and Wales

Legally, wild camping isn’t permitted in either England or Wales, the exception being Dartmoor where it’s allowed apart from a few specific areas. In both countries, though, wild camping is tolerated as long as campers ask landowner permission first and are discreet and respectful. This means following the “leave no trace principle”, packing up and leaving early the morning after your stopover, and not making excessive noise.

Wales

As home to three of Britain’s national parks , Wales is a beautiful place to wild camp. Try the Brecon Beacons, around Snowdonia or along the Welsh coast: the 840-mile Wales Coast Path is the first uninterrupted national coastal hiking route in the world and takes in almost 200 miles of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

England

In England, spectacular wild camping spots include the Lake District, the Cheviots in Northumberland and the North Yorkshire coastline (as well as Cornwall, but “no overnight camping” signs are plentiful along the Cornish coast). You can also check specific organisations like the National Trust or Woodland Trust to see if camping is permitted on particular parts of their land.

Campervan wild camping in Northern Ireland

Like England and Wales, wild camping as a rule isn’t allowed in Northern Ireland but it is allowed at some Forest Service Northern Ireland sites : Castlewellan, Drum Manor, Glenarriff and Tollymore forest parks. It’s essential to ask permission/book in advance , which you can do at these links:

• Castlewellan Forest Park camp/ touring online booking

• Drum Manor Forest Park camping/ touring online booking

• Glenariff Forest Park touring online booking

• Tollymore Forest Park camping/ touring online booking

To have the best of both worlds – wild camp legally but not on a campsite – use an app likePark4Night or Britstops, which list places in the UK you can park your campervan overnight. (Park4Night lists campervan stopover sites worldwide, if this first trip gives you the # vanlife buzz.)

Plan your trip today

No matter what your current location or budget is , at Camplify UK you can find a vast range of vans near your home or pick one up at your destination.

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Wondering what to budget for your van trip? Check out our 'How Much Is It To Hire A Campervan?' guide for more information!

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